| THIS IS PAGE 22 OF JUNE 2008 PAGES - JUNE0822 |
| JUNE 2008 Pages - Page 22 |
HOW MORRIS IEMMA F***ED HIS GOVERNMENT
When historians examine the entrails of the Morris Iemma government, looking for the "defining moment" of the downfall of it,
I suggest they carefully examine the media conference held in the Domain in early 2008.
The transcript (from memory) went something like this :
Iemma : If the media s*it on the government, we will s*it on the media.
Journalist : Is that a threat , are you......
Linda Burney MP ; Oh you are a delicate little petal aren't you .
Whether the briefing for that media conference was based on a chapter out of the book How to Win Friends and Influence People is not known,
but it certainly put the media on the alert.
Then came that fateful Friday night in June, followed by a media conference on Sunday afternoon when a written apology was produced. That
apology did not "sit right" and there was a veiled threat to the financial security and the integrity of the media. Thus sections of the media who
were under potential attack, and other sections, by now tired of the Iemma government's spin and for whom the "apology" was bizarre, went on
the hunt for information.
Meanwhile, the Iemma government - true to form - were using tax-payer funded resources to search for "dirt" on the workers at the central coast
club (apparently unsuccessfully).
The media, on the other hand, were practically knocked down in the rush by people wanting to 'spill their guts' - many of them Labor people.
For the Iemma government - it just went from bad to worse. The media had lost faith in the government. Whatever the government said, the
media would not accept it at face value - and went out to independently check the information. Practically each time the government said
something - it was found the government statement was not exactly correct. When the Premier's office said it had received 4 statutory
declarations that contradicted the worker's statutory declarations, a compliant media may have walked away from the story - and let it die as a
insoluble conflict of the "he said-she said" variety. But the media had learned that if the government said it was raining - it was best to go outside
and check - just in case. So it was necessary to investigate further. The media's cynicism was justified. There were additional statutory
declarations which had been "with-held". Indeed the maker of one of these statutory declarations resigned from her employment with Belinda Neal
MP, citing intolerable stress as the reason.
BUT all along the Premier, and his office, knew nothing of the Iguana workers "dirt digging" operation and knew nothing of the with-held statutory
declarations.
IT is difficult to imagine that there can be anything left in the Iguana Joe's story. BUT day by day we have been shocked by new revelations - so it
would not be surprising if there was more.
The Iemma government has lost credibility in the eyes of the media. IT means governance by spin in the future will be more difficult. Iguana Joes
has provided a graphic (and easily comprehensible) example of how the NSW government operates and how the culture of the predominant
Terrigals corrupts.
IT's Morris Iemma's right to choose to f**k his government. However, he has now embarked on a course of f***ing the very institution that lies at
the heart of democracy in NSW, parliament itself.
His latest way of answering questions in the parliament is along the lines of :
I made a statement (outside the parliament) last week about this and I refer to that statement.
OF course, unless one has at one's disposal a multi-million dollar media monitoring service - the answer
is meaningless.
IF what he said outside the parliament was true, why does he not repeat it in the parliament - a place
where (at least in theory) he is required to tell the truth ?
This new tactic of Morris Iemma, which is akin to treating parliament with contempt, will eventually come to
bite him on the elbow. Don't you worry about that !!!
==================================================================================================================
When historians examine the entrails of the Morris Iemma government, looking for the "defining moment" of the downfall of it,
I suggest they carefully examine the media conference held in the Domain in early 2008.
The transcript (from memory) went something like this :
Iemma : If the media s*it on the government, we will s*it on the media.
Journalist : Is that a threat , are you......
Linda Burney MP ; Oh you are a delicate little petal aren't you .
Whether the briefing for that media conference was based on a chapter out of the book How to Win Friends and Influence People is not known,
but it certainly put the media on the alert.
Then came that fateful Friday night in June, followed by a media conference on Sunday afternoon when a written apology was produced. That
apology did not "sit right" and there was a veiled threat to the financial security and the integrity of the media. Thus sections of the media who
were under potential attack, and other sections, by now tired of the Iemma government's spin and for whom the "apology" was bizarre, went on
the hunt for information.
Meanwhile, the Iemma government - true to form - were using tax-payer funded resources to search for "dirt" on the workers at the central coast
club (apparently unsuccessfully).
The media, on the other hand, were practically knocked down in the rush by people wanting to 'spill their guts' - many of them Labor people.
For the Iemma government - it just went from bad to worse. The media had lost faith in the government. Whatever the government said, the
media would not accept it at face value - and went out to independently check the information. Practically each time the government said
something - it was found the government statement was not exactly correct. When the Premier's office said it had received 4 statutory
declarations that contradicted the worker's statutory declarations, a compliant media may have walked away from the story - and let it die as a
insoluble conflict of the "he said-she said" variety. But the media had learned that if the government said it was raining - it was best to go outside
and check - just in case. So it was necessary to investigate further. The media's cynicism was justified. There were additional statutory
declarations which had been "with-held". Indeed the maker of one of these statutory declarations resigned from her employment with Belinda Neal
MP, citing intolerable stress as the reason.
BUT all along the Premier, and his office, knew nothing of the Iguana workers "dirt digging" operation and knew nothing of the with-held statutory
declarations.
IT is difficult to imagine that there can be anything left in the Iguana Joe's story. BUT day by day we have been shocked by new revelations - so it
would not be surprising if there was more.
The Iemma government has lost credibility in the eyes of the media. IT means governance by spin in the future will be more difficult. Iguana Joes
has provided a graphic (and easily comprehensible) example of how the NSW government operates and how the culture of the predominant
Terrigals corrupts.
IT's Morris Iemma's right to choose to f**k his government. However, he has now embarked on a course of f***ing the very institution that lies at
the heart of democracy in NSW, parliament itself.
His latest way of answering questions in the parliament is along the lines of :
I made a statement (outside the parliament) last week about this and I refer to that statement.
OF course, unless one has at one's disposal a multi-million dollar media monitoring service - the answer
is meaningless.
IF what he said outside the parliament was true, why does he not repeat it in the parliament - a place
where (at least in theory) he is required to tell the truth ?
This new tactic of Morris Iemma, which is akin to treating parliament with contempt, will eventually come to
bite him on the elbow. Don't you worry about that !!!
==================================================================================================================
AUSSIES AT ASCOT
| HARADASUN (hard up against the standside rail in the yellow colours) winning the opening event at the Royal Ascot carnival. |
| TAKEOVER TARGET (standside in the red with white sleeves and cap) running 2nd in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes over 1000m on the opening day at Royal Ascot. |
HARADASUN (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) - Circles of Gold) , starting a 5/1 second favourite, won the opening event by a head - the Group 1
Queen Anne Stakes over 1600m, at the Royal Ascot carnival, on 17 June 2008. Haradasun will be now be retired to stud. He will stand at
Coolmore's Hunter Valley property, with a first year service fee of $55,000.
TAKEOVER TARGET (Celtic Swing (GB) - Shady Stream) started a 6/1 2nd favourite in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes over 1000m, and
finished 2nd, beaten 0.5 lens, ridden by Australian jockey Jay Ford. Magnus (Flying Spur - Scandinavia ) ridden by Damien Oliver,started at 13/2
and finished 8th of the 13 runners. He will contest the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes to be run over 1200m on Saturday 21 June 2008 at the
carnival.
SOURCES :
Craig Young , Haradasun in right royal form , Sydney Morning Herald, 18 June 2008.
Alan Lee; Spanish sprinter claims first-day honours as Ascot goes truly global , Times On-line, 17 June 2008.
Sun shines for O'Brien and Murtagh , Ireland On Line , 17 June 2008.
Michael Sharkie and Patrick Bartley , One last Stand for Takeover Target , The Age, 16 June 2008.
=================================================================================================================
CAN'T KENEALLY GET IT TOGETHER
Kristina Keneally MP ( member for Heffron for now) is in charge of World Youth Day for the NSW government.
BUT one month out from the event, the NSW government has not yet finalised an agreement with the Catholic Church
report Matthew Moore, Linda Morris and Sunanda Creagh in Still no deal on taxpayer bill for Youth Day ,
Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2008.
Why can't Keneally get it together ?
I can think of lots of reasons - but they are not fit to print.
==================================================================================================================
Kristina Keneally MP ( member for Heffron for now) is in charge of World Youth Day for the NSW government.
BUT one month out from the event, the NSW government has not yet finalised an agreement with the Catholic Church
report Matthew Moore, Linda Morris and Sunanda Creagh in Still no deal on taxpayer bill for Youth Day ,
Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2008.
Why can't Keneally get it together ?
I can think of lots of reasons - but they are not fit to print.
==================================================================================================================
IEMMA : ' I DIDN'T COVER UP EXTRA STATEMENTS '
The mystery of the missing statements has not yet been solved. Morris Iemma says neither he nor his office knew anything
about them.
Other than that, he refuses to comment, because there is a "police investigation"
The Iemma government must be the most investigated government in history.
Hardly a week goes by without there being a current police investigation into one of his ministers or potential ministers.
Secluded in the lofty heights of the Premier's office - away from the milieu of everyday life of 'working families' (but having spectacular views over
Sydney harbour) the Premier knows nothing of the circumstances of any of the Police investigations. Morris Iemma knows "nuffink". He first learns
about things when they are reported in the media. Thank God for his multi-million dollar media monitoring service. Without it; he would know
"absolutely nuffink".
SOURCES :
Andrew Clennell and Alexandra Smith , Iemma and minister fail to do the numbers , Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2008.
ABC News , NSW Oppn fails to refer Iguana affair to ICAC , Iemma denies withholding Iguanas statements , 18 June 2008.
Duck and dither in the declaration debacle , Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2008.
Annabel Stafford and Michelle Grattan , MP misled NSW Premier 'twice' , The Age, 19 June 2008.
The mystery of the missing statements has not yet been solved. Morris Iemma says neither he nor his office knew anything
about them.
Other than that, he refuses to comment, because there is a "police investigation"
The Iemma government must be the most investigated government in history.
Hardly a week goes by without there being a current police investigation into one of his ministers or potential ministers.
Secluded in the lofty heights of the Premier's office - away from the milieu of everyday life of 'working families' (but having spectacular views over
Sydney harbour) the Premier knows nothing of the circumstances of any of the Police investigations. Morris Iemma knows "nuffink". He first learns
about things when they are reported in the media. Thank God for his multi-million dollar media monitoring service. Without it; he would know
"absolutely nuffink".
SOURCES :
Andrew Clennell and Alexandra Smith , Iemma and minister fail to do the numbers , Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2008.
ABC News , NSW Oppn fails to refer Iguana affair to ICAC , Iemma denies withholding Iguanas statements , 18 June 2008.
Duck and dither in the declaration debacle , Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2008.
Annabel Stafford and Michelle Grattan , MP misled NSW Premier 'twice' , The Age, 19 June 2008.
HAS IEMMA F***ED THE NSW ECONOMY AS WELL ???
According to Robert Gottliebsen, NSW is the laggard , Business Spectator, 18 June 2008 it is necessary
"...to stop saying that Australia is divided between resource-rich and resource-poor states.
Australia is divided between the special problems in NSW and the rest of the country. "
"What we really have in Australia is four states that are performing well given the high interest rates – Queensland,
South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania plus one that has resources – WA. Against that we have NSW which is
the largest centre of population, the wealthiest state and the home to our global city, Sydney, performing way
below its potential. We conceal the bad management in NSW by lumping it with Victoria, South Australia and
Tasmania and declaring the lot non-resource states and classifying Queensland a resource state."
"I also spoke to a number of Queensland CEOs who found doing business straight forward in all eastern states except NSW which they
said was a simply “a joke”.
"Since then I have spoken to a wider range of Australian executives who all complained about the difficulty of doing business in the
NSW culture."
NICE ONE MORRIS - YOU AND YOUR TERRIGALS MATES HAVE F***ED THE ECONOMY as well
=================================================================================================================
According to Robert Gottliebsen, NSW is the laggard , Business Spectator, 18 June 2008 it is necessary
"...to stop saying that Australia is divided between resource-rich and resource-poor states.
Australia is divided between the special problems in NSW and the rest of the country. "
"What we really have in Australia is four states that are performing well given the high interest rates – Queensland,
South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania plus one that has resources – WA. Against that we have NSW which is
the largest centre of population, the wealthiest state and the home to our global city, Sydney, performing way
below its potential. We conceal the bad management in NSW by lumping it with Victoria, South Australia and
Tasmania and declaring the lot non-resource states and classifying Queensland a resource state."
"I also spoke to a number of Queensland CEOs who found doing business straight forward in all eastern states except NSW which they
said was a simply “a joke”.
"Since then I have spoken to a wider range of Australian executives who all complained about the difficulty of doing business in the
NSW culture."
NICE ONE MORRIS - YOU AND YOUR TERRIGALS MATES HAVE F***ED THE ECONOMY as well
=================================================================================================================
TAMWORTH MLC REJECTS DRAPER's "SLEAZY DEAL"
In a media release issued on 17 June 2008 Peter Draper MP (Tamworth) said that the Iemma government's
backdown on the electricity sell-off was a "sleazy deal between the Treasurer" and the alternate government.
However Tamworth based MLC Trevor Khan has dismissed Mr Draper's claim as mere politiking.
Mr Khan said :
“In fact I don’t think we [alternate government and Mr Draper] are singing from a particularly different
hymn sheet . This whole deal is far too serious to play sideline commentary games.”
Mr Khan pointed out that Treasurer Costa and Premier Iemma had caved in to the alternate government's
demands for a Rural Impact Statement to be presented to parliament.
Unfortunately for "Do Me Slowly" Iemma , the Auditor General Peter Achterstraat, has indicated he
"will not advise parliament on whether the sell-off is a good idea "., Further, the Auditor-General is not sure
whether he is able to advise parliament " whether this is the right time to privatise electricity generation, given the fragile state of capital markets
and the uncertainties around a national carbon trading regime. "
So it looks like come September and the electricity sell-off will be skittled anyway. Morris Iemma either loves being done slowly or he is just buying
time to clean up his office before the new Premier moves in, in September.
SOURCE :
Simon Chamberlain, Govt falling into line on sell-off , Northern Daily Leader, 18 June 2008.
Editorial, Issue highlights Govt's arrogance , Northern Daily Leader, 18 June 2008
Imre Salusinszky, Power sale push hits new snag , The Australian, 19 June 2008.
Peter Draper MP, Electricity Deals Ignore Public Opinion , Media Release, 17 June 2008.
Alysia Ferguson, Minister wrong on support claim , Northern Daily Leader, 19 June 2008.
Oliver Murray, MP’s power on sell off , Central Western Daily , 19 June 2008.
===================================================================================
In a media release issued on 17 June 2008 Peter Draper MP (Tamworth) said that the Iemma government's
backdown on the electricity sell-off was a "sleazy deal between the Treasurer" and the alternate government.
However Tamworth based MLC Trevor Khan has dismissed Mr Draper's claim as mere politiking.
Mr Khan said :
“In fact I don’t think we [alternate government and Mr Draper] are singing from a particularly different
hymn sheet . This whole deal is far too serious to play sideline commentary games.”
Mr Khan pointed out that Treasurer Costa and Premier Iemma had caved in to the alternate government's
demands for a Rural Impact Statement to be presented to parliament.
Unfortunately for "Do Me Slowly" Iemma , the Auditor General Peter Achterstraat, has indicated he
"will not advise parliament on whether the sell-off is a good idea "., Further, the Auditor-General is not sure
whether he is able to advise parliament " whether this is the right time to privatise electricity generation, given the fragile state of capital markets
and the uncertainties around a national carbon trading regime. "
So it looks like come September and the electricity sell-off will be skittled anyway. Morris Iemma either loves being done slowly or he is just buying
time to clean up his office before the new Premier moves in, in September.
SOURCE :
Simon Chamberlain, Govt falling into line on sell-off , Northern Daily Leader, 18 June 2008.
Editorial, Issue highlights Govt's arrogance , Northern Daily Leader, 18 June 2008
Imre Salusinszky, Power sale push hits new snag , The Australian, 19 June 2008.
Peter Draper MP, Electricity Deals Ignore Public Opinion , Media Release, 17 June 2008.
Alysia Ferguson, Minister wrong on support claim , Northern Daily Leader, 19 June 2008.
Oliver Murray, MP’s power on sell off , Central Western Daily , 19 June 2008.
===================================================================================
WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH ???
As we have pointed out previously Peter Draper MP (Tamworth) has a tendency to accept whatever
Iemma government ministers and their staffers tell him as the rolled gold truth and fails to carry
out his own independent inquiries.
He was overseas on parliamentary committee business when the proverbial hit the fan in relation to
Morris Iemma's promise to commence construction of the new Tamworth Hospital before March 2011,
made during the 2007 election campaign. Peter Draper was a substantial beneficiary of that promise.
The promise and it's timing, was made by Iemma to benefit Peter Draper (and not the
Labor candidate).
The proverbial hit the fan because Treasury issued a document which disclosed there were no plans to build the hospital.
So who does one believe ? The Premier or the Treasurer.
Lets be frank - the Premier is fast running out of reserves of credibility.
Anyway, in order to sort the matter out, Tamworth based MLC Trevor Khan, has decided to carry out his own independent searches and inquiries.
He is lodging Freedom of Information applications, hoping to discover evidence of what the truth actually is. Presumably Mr Khan wants the
hospital built "yesterday" - and is not prepared to be fobbed off by ministerial or ministerial staffer statements.
LETS just hope that Mr Khan has deep pockets, a lot of patience and a Hetty Johnston like terrier approach - because FOI applications under the
Iemma government will test the resolve of even the most determined of people.
SOURCE :
Simon Chamberlain, Be fair dinkum: Khan calls for hospital commitment , Northern Daily Leader, 18 June 2008.
Iemma contradicts Treasurer Costa, June 2008 Pages page 16.
Peter Draper MP Beneficiary of Labor Lies, June 2008 Pages page 13.
=================================================================================================================
As we have pointed out previously Peter Draper MP (Tamworth) has a tendency to accept whatever
Iemma government ministers and their staffers tell him as the rolled gold truth and fails to carry
out his own independent inquiries.
He was overseas on parliamentary committee business when the proverbial hit the fan in relation to
Morris Iemma's promise to commence construction of the new Tamworth Hospital before March 2011,
made during the 2007 election campaign. Peter Draper was a substantial beneficiary of that promise.
The promise and it's timing, was made by Iemma to benefit Peter Draper (and not the
Labor candidate).
The proverbial hit the fan because Treasury issued a document which disclosed there were no plans to build the hospital.
So who does one believe ? The Premier or the Treasurer.
Lets be frank - the Premier is fast running out of reserves of credibility.
Anyway, in order to sort the matter out, Tamworth based MLC Trevor Khan, has decided to carry out his own independent searches and inquiries.
He is lodging Freedom of Information applications, hoping to discover evidence of what the truth actually is. Presumably Mr Khan wants the
hospital built "yesterday" - and is not prepared to be fobbed off by ministerial or ministerial staffer statements.
LETS just hope that Mr Khan has deep pockets, a lot of patience and a Hetty Johnston like terrier approach - because FOI applications under the
Iemma government will test the resolve of even the most determined of people.
SOURCE :
Simon Chamberlain, Be fair dinkum: Khan calls for hospital commitment , Northern Daily Leader, 18 June 2008.
Iemma contradicts Treasurer Costa, June 2008 Pages page 16.
Peter Draper MP Beneficiary of Labor Lies, June 2008 Pages page 13.
=================================================================================================================
